Clothes cart having a vertically adjustable platform



July 22, 1952 R. M. SCHULTZ 2,604,334

CLOTHES CAQT HAVING A VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE PLATFORM Filed Aug. 24, 1948 2 SHEETS-Sl-[EET 1 5% 7 dii 'ys July 22 1952 R M. SCHULTZ CLOTHES CART HAVING A VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE PLATFORM 2 SHEETS -SHEET 2 Filed Aug. 24, 1948 liulii" nvvfzvmp foyM. Sc

Patented July 22, 1952 CLOTHES CART HAVING A VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE PLATFORM Roy M. Schultz, Chicago, Ill., assignor to David A. Freeman Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 24, 1948, Serial No. 45,917

3 Claims.

This invention relates to demountable carts, and it is an object of the invention to provide an improved cart of this character.

In handling clothing during cleaning and pressing thereof there are a large number of operations to be performed at relatively widely separated points, and each operation usually involves transfer of the garments from one place to an other. For example, the garments to be cleaned are first collected by operators driving trucks who bring the garments to a receiving station from whence the garments are transmitted to cleaners or washers and thereafter to dryers. From the. dryers the garments may move to a spotter who removes spots not removed during the general cleaning or washing operation, and from the spotter the garments move to a presser who finishes them for delivery to the owner. At each point where an operation is performed on the garments, storage facilities such as tables are provided to hold a supply of garments for the operator, and in transferring the garments from one point of operation to another the garments are loaded onto some type of carrier and moved to the next point by cart or by hand and again unloaded.

Each of these operations involves the consumption of time and. efiort, the expenditure of a considerable amount of which may be saved by eliminating the necessity for loading and unloading the garments in transferring them from one point of operation to another. In pursuance of this, it is proposed to provide a small demountable cart which is provided with casters in order that it may be pushed from one position to another. This cart may be provided with a platform of normal height in order that clothing may be placed thereon and removed conveniently therefrom. Thus, for example, these carts may be placed at a receiving station and the drivers may unload the garments directly thereon, whereupon the garments are pushed to the cleaning machine and unloaded thereinto without need for transferring the articles from a cart to a table. Similarly, when garments are removed from the cleaning machine they may be loaded onto the cart and moved to the dryer also without the need for first placing them on a table and then transferring them to a cart. In this manner stationary table space is preserved and more space becomes available for operations since the carts themselves are used in place of the tables.

In operations of the foregoing character there may be large numbers of carts used and consequently they should be efiicient in operation and should be of dimensions so as to conform with the usual scale of operations. That is to say, if.

normally the machines handle small numbers of garments the carts may be designed to carry relatively small loads, and if the machines are intended to, handle heavier loads the carts may be designed larger. Hence, the number of carts may be reduced and those in use may be used at a steady rate rather than being used for a certain length of time and then stand idle for a certain length of time.

Inasmuch as the process of cleaning wearing apparel is a rapid one and must be very expeditiously caried out in order to be profitable, the carts used must not only be efficient, but must be very durable in order that they do not break down during operation. Moreover, the carts preferably are demountable for shipping purposes and relatively easily assembled by unskilled workmen. Accordingly, it is a further object of the invention to provide an improved demountable cart which is durable in service, efficient in operation, and dependable in character.

In carrying out the invention in one form, a demountable cart is provided comprising a platform member, vertically extending tubular sockets or sleeves rigidly attached thereto, a pair of two legged members forming supports for the platform, the legs of the pair of members being received through the sockets, and 'pin means extending through the legs cooperating with the sockets for determining the height of the platform.

For a more complete understanding of the invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a demountable cart embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken substantially in the direction of arrows 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken substantially in the directionof the arrows 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a demountable cart embodying the invention in partially assembled form;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the cart embodying the invention in a more advanced stage of assembly, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view on a larger scale of one element of the cart.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is shown as comprising a cart l0 having a platform I I and a pair of end members l2 and I3 supporting the platform, the lower ends of the end members being provided with casters l4.

Platform H comprises a pair of side angle- .irons l5 and I6, and a pair of end angle-irons 3 I! and [8 attached to each other at their ends to form a relatively rigid rectangular structure, the members being attached to each other by any suitable means such for example as welding along their adjoining. edges.

At the'cornersof'platform H tubularmembers or sleeves I9, 20, 2| and 22 are attached by well known means, such for example as welding. Referring to Fig. 3, it will be observed that the sleeve I9 is welded at its top edge to angle member I! and is also welded to angle member l at its bottom edge. In this manner the various-angle members of the platform "are additionally held together and reinforced. The adjoining ends of the angle members at each .cornerrespectively are provided with semi-circular cutout portions which combine to forma circular hole-cooperating with the holes through the various sleeves to 'r'rec'eive thesupporting-legsof: the cart.

"'Tocomplete theplatformsome form of material; such for example a ."screen :made :of expamled' metal, is attached-tothe underside of the side-- and end-'angle-members. The screen may *be=attached thereto'by any well known means such'as welding. Having the-screen attached to the underside of the angle members .keeps." the ends of the screen completely outof therway so that there is no opportunity for garments torcatch "thereon.

Thesupporting'members I2 and I3 of .jthecart are sim'ilarto each other-zandzmay comprise gen- -=era'lly U-shaped members eachhavinga topmember' 2l-and 1egs 24..and 25. WhiIe'any type of material may beused forthesemembers, it :has been found convenient-to :use '1 metartubing :bent substantially into uthe configuration -.shown,"the :outside vdiameterv-oftthe" tubing. being such ia s'to be easilyreceivable throu h-sleeves l9 and 22,

and 20 and-12L The legs124and; 25 of: each *end -member: are providedwith'holesptherethrough, as 'may :betseen best in Fig.3, and a pin' 26,-for exriample a 'boltor "rivet mayrbe'placed through 5 each hole: to'provideaa support for the. platform H. ":.Thus,:when:thetcart is:in its assembled form tthevtwo end-members l2' and 13 have: their respective :le s'placedthrou h the sleeves, and bolts or pins are placed: through 3-the-holes-in each one of the legs. The various "sleeves rest onthe bolts thereby determining the height of the cart. "In orderthat the legsmay be held sufficiently rigid for all purposes; :thevarious 'sleeves' are .of substantial length which may vary from a. length equal to that ofthe'sidesof theaangle members up to lengths of several inches. "Bushings may "be provided in the hollow legs foreasily receiving the vertical studs 21 of the casters.

Assuming that the platform and end members vof'the cart areunassemblei'it is only necessary to place platform I I on its side, as'shown in Fig. 4, and to place the legs of the two endmembers throu'ghthe respective sleeves. 'Thereafter'the bolts 26 are placed through the holes as shown and the assembled platform and. legs. may be placed upsidedownwhile thecasters M are inserted into the hollow ends of the legs. -When the structure is turned right-side-up the'platfor-m slides .down the legs until the lower-ends of the sleeves-con- .tact .the bolts at which point the cart is completelyvassembled and-ready for operation.

During the turning. upside down or right-sideup the casters remain in position inasmuch as the studs 21 of the casterszmay be'provided with expanding spring memberst28, :as is 'well. understood. The expanding spring members bear ably provided holes in the angle members l5 and 6. 'By virtue thereof, the spacer may be folded to lie down flat if so desired or it may be held up to provide-a separator between different batches of material.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so. fully explain the gist of my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under varying conditions of service, without eliminating certain features, which may properly besaid toconstitute the essential items of novelty involved, which items are intended to bedefined and secured to me by the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. A cart comprising, a platform member including a frame and a grid-like bed attached thereto, vertically extending tubular sleevesrigidly attached thereto at their upper ends and extending downwardly below said platform member, a pair of two legged members formingsupportsfor said platform, the legs of said pairs being received through said sleeves, and pin means extending through said legs cooperating with said sleeves for determining the height of platform, and a divider mounted on said platform in between said two legged members.

2. A demountable cart comprising-a platform member including a rectangular frameand a gridlike bedattached thereto with the periphery of said bed underlying said frame, vertically-extending tubular sleeves rigidly attached thereto at their inner endsand extending downwardly below said platform member, .a pair of unitary members forming supports for said platform, each one of which includes a pair of projecting" end members, one eachof said end members extending through eachof said sleeves, and pin means extending through-said legs and cooperating with said sleeves for determining the height of said platform.

3. A demountable cart comprising a platform member including a rectangular frame .and a gridlike bed attached thereto with-the periphery of said bed underlying said frame, vertically extending tubular sleeves rigidly'attached thereto at their inner ends and extending downwardly below said platform member, a pair of unitary members forming supports for saidplatform, each one of which includes a pair of projecting end members, one each of said end members extending through each of said sleeves, pin means extending through said legs and cooperating with said sleeves for determining the height of said platform, and a divider mounted onsaidplatform in between said unitary members.

ROY M. .SCHULTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record-in the file of .this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 244,073 Powers July'l2, 1881 696,535 Bailey Apr. 1, 1902 1,303,691 Tempt et al. May 13, 1919 1,781,754 Grab Nov. 18, 1930 

